Full perineal wash system with removable seat

Abstract

Apparatus for a perineal wash system includes a seat with a pair of pads spaced apart front to back to define a gap. The pads and frame define front and rear access areas dimensioned to allow a caregiver to access the perineal area of a seated person. In various embodiments at least one pad is movable sideways and may include a biasing spring, an operating handle, and/or a latch. The seat is suitable for a shower chair, a wall-mounted chair, and a bathtub chair. A gas spring optionally lifts one end of the seat. In one embodiment a perineal washer is supported adjacent the seat. The washer receives a nozzle of a sprayer and redirects the spray through a movable conduit to direct liquid upward to the perineum. In one embodiment a commode pot below the seat has a gap sufficient to avoid pinching dangling body parts.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 12 / 579,640, filed Oct. 15, 2009. This application claims the right of priority of Canada Patent Application Number 2,717,608, filed Oct. 14, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference, which claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 579,640, filed Oct. 15, 2009.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of Invention[0004]This invention pertains to a perineal wash system that provides for full access to the perineum, urethra, and genitalia of a seated person. More particularly, this invention pertains to a seat that allows a caregiver to fully access the perineum, urethra, and genitalia of a person sitting in the seat and to a perineal washer that redirects fluid from a hand-held spray nozzle that redirects fluid to the perineal area of the seated person.[0005]2. Description of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]Yet another embodiment of the seat, a gas spring is positioned under the front of each seat pad to elevate the front of the pad. By elevating the front of the seat, the perineum of the occupant is more readily accessible from the front. The gas spring has a damping feature to limit the speed at which the gas spring moves the seat. In an embodiment where the rear of the seat is elevated with a gas spring, the perineum is more readily accessible from the rear. In one such embodiment, a locking mechanism is used to secure the seat pad in position.

[0016]According to one embodiment of the invention, a perineal washer is provided. The perineal washer is a device that receives a common spray nozzle and redirects the water spray toward the perineum of a seated person. In this way, a caregiver is able to apply water to the perineum of a person without manually directing water from a nozzle upwards, which normally results in exposing the caregiver to the person's bodily waste as the water drips onto the caregiver's hand and arm and runs down the caregiver's arm. The perineal washer has a receiver into which a nozzle of a hose

Problems solved by technology

Incontinent accidents commonly occur when persons are bathed in warm flowing water because of the relaxation of the body.

These pots are not often used because of the pinching that occurs when the pot is removed with the person seated in the chair.

It is the most serious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and can lead to pseudomembranous colitis, a severe infection of the colon.

The person has contaminated hands, which handles food and/or medicine, which causes the contamination to be ingested, thereby infecting the person.

The overgrowth is harmful because the bacterium releases toxins that potentially causes bloating, constipation,

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